Today in History

Published 12:01 am Saturday, September 30, 2017

Today is Saturday, Sept. 30, the 273rd day of 2017. There are 92 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On September 30, 1947, the World Series was broadcast on television for the first time; the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in game 1 (the Yankees went on to win the Series four games to three).

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On this date:

In 1777, the Continental Congress — forced to flee in the face of advancing British forces — moved to York, Pennsylvania.

In 1846, Boston dentist William Morton used ether as an anesthetic for the first time as he extracted an ulcerated tooth from merchant Eben Frost.

In 1917, legendary jazz drummer and bandleader Bernard “Buddy” Rich was born in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1927, Babe Ruth of the Yankees hit his 60th homer of the season to break his own major-league record during a 4-2 victory over the Washington Senators.

In 1938, after co-signing the Munich Agreement allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, “I believe it is peace for our time.”

In 1949, the Berlin Airlift came to an end.

In 1952, the motion picture “This Is Cinerama,” which introduced the triple-camera, triple-projector Cinerama widescreen process, premiered at the Broadway Theatre in New York.

In 1955, actor James Dean, 24, was killed in a two-car collision near Cholame, California.

In 1962, James Meredith, a black student, was escorted by federal marshals to the campus of the University of Mississippi, where he enrolled for classes the next day; Meredith’s presence sparked rioting that claimed two lives.

In 1972, Roberto Clemente hit a double against Jon Matlack of the New York Mets during Pittsburgh’s 5-0 victory at Three Rivers Stadium; the hit was the 3,000th and last for the Pirates star.

In 1982, the situation comedy “Cheers” premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1997, France’s Roman Catholic Church apologized for its silence during the systematic persecution and deportation of Jews by the pro-Nazi Vichy regime.

Ten years ago: A U.N. envoy failed to meet with Myanmar’s top two junta leaders in his effort to persuade them to ease a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, but was allowed a highly orchestrated session with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (ahng sahn soo chee). Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan hanged a teenager found to have U.S. money in his pocket as a warning to others not to use dollars. The United States won the Presidents Cup in Montreal, 19 1/2-14 1/2, giving them a victory on foreign soil in cup competition for the first time since 1993. Germany defeated Brazil 2-0 in the final of the Women’s World Cup held in Shanghai, China.

Five years ago: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, writing in The Wall Street Journal, said President Barack Obama had “misunderstood” American values in his policies toward other countries. Looking to lower expectations in advance of his first debate against Romney, Obama described himself as just an “OK” debater. Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels became the first rookie in Major League history to hit 30 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season as the Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 5-4. Europe won the Ryder Cup with an historic comeback from a 4-point deficit to beat the United States, 14 1/2 points to 13 1/2 points.

One year ago: Alabama’s Court of the Judiciary permanently suspended state Chief Justice Roy Moore for defying federal court rulings on gay marriage, saying he had violated judicial ethics. Scottish boxer Mike Towell, 25, died after suffering severe bleeding and swelling to his brain during a televised fight against Dale Evans in Glasgow.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Angie Dickinson is 86. Singer Cissy Houston is 84. Singer Johnny Mathis is 82. Actor Len Cariou is 78. Singer Marilyn McCoo is 74. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is 72. Pop singer Sylvia Peterson (The Chiffons) is 71. Actor Vondie Curtis-Hall is 67. Actress Victoria Tennant is 67. Actor John Finn is 65. Rock musician John Lombardo is 65. Singer Deborah Allen is 64. Actor Calvin Levels is 63. Actor Barry Williams is 63. Singer Patrice Rushen is 63. Actress Fran Drescher is 60. Country singer Marty Stuart is 59. Actress Debrah Farentino is 58. Rock musician Bill Rieflin (R.E.M.) is 57. Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., is 57. Actress Crystal Bernard is 56. Actor Eric Stoltz is 56. Rapper-producer Marley Marl is 55. Country singer Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery-Gentry) is 54. Rock singer Trey Anastasio is 53. Actress Monica Bellucci is 53. Rock musician Robby Takac (TAY’-kak) (Goo Goo Dolls) is 53. Actress Lisa Thornhill is 51. Actress Andrea Roth is 50. Actress Amy Landecker is 48. Actor Silas Weir Mitchell is 48. Actor Tony Hale is 47. Actress Jenna Elfman is 46. Actor Ashley Hamilton is 43. Actress Marion Cotillard (koh-tee-YAHR’) is 42. Actor Christopher Jackson is 42. Actor Stark Sands is 39. Actor Mike Damus is 38. Tennis player Martina Hingis is 37. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu (moh-chee-AH’-noo) is 36. Actress Lacey Chabert (shuh-BEHR’) is 35. Actor Kieran Culkin is 35. Singer-rapper T-Pain is 33.